The severe conditions are expected to move in from around 9am tomorrow until midnight.

Strathclyde, south west Scotland, the Lothians and Borders, Wales, Northern Ireland and the North West of England have also been warned of ice for tomorrow and Sunday.

Stephen Davenport, a senior meteorologist with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "A blizzard is snow with winds of 25mph or more, and we are looking at 30mph-35mph in exposed areas and 50mph-60mph gusts. These will mainly affect Caithness and Sutherland and eastern Aberdeenshire.

"The snow will struggle to get through to Glasgow but there will be some showers.

"There will be a few centimetres in places further north at the Moray Firth and down the coast along western Galloway.

"With the cold front coming south during Saturday, wet surfaces will turn cold and then into ice. That will begin to die off on Sunday morning, with milder conditions moving in."

The Met Office website said northern and western coastal fringes would see between 2in (5cm) and 4in (10cm) of snow, with 6in (15cm) likely over higher ground.

It said: "Snow showers will become frequent and heavy at times over much of northern and north west Scotland, including the Grampians, during Saturday.

"In addition, gale-force winds will result in temporary blizzard conditions and drifting over higher ground. The public should be aware that this is likely to cause disruption."

Police have asked motorists to be aware of the conditions they are driving in and to check routes before setting off.

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Tourists are seen outside Buckingham Palace, London, as much of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm, grounded planes and caused road and rail disruption (PA)

Canal boats frozen in a canal in Sawley, Nottingham, as much of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm, grounded planes and caused road and rail disruption (PA)

Soldier's from the 73 Engineer Regiment during combat fitness training in Attenborough nature reserve, Nottingham, as much of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm, grounded planes and caused road and rail disruption (PA)

Walkers enjoy the snow in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, west London, as much of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm, grounded planes and caused road and rail disruption (PA)

A general view of Nottingham Forest's home ground of the City Ground surrounded by snow, as much of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm, grounded planes and caused road and rail disruption (PA)